“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
The deceased is Eliseo Imperial Lopez, father of “Cheyo Anthrax,” considered the leader of the armed wing of the Pacific Cartel.
Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael El Mayo Zambada Garcia made a sudden and symbolic appearance at the funeral of his wife Margarita Lopez Imperial’s brother.
A photograph of a wreath with a ribbon bearing the caption “From Ismael Zambada” began circulating on social networks.
The wreath was allegedly taken to a funeral home in the municipality of Culiacán, in the state of Sinaloa, where Eliseo Imperial López, the brother of El Mayo’s wife but also the father of Eliseo Imperial Castro, alias Cheyo Ántrax, considered to be the last leader of the armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel known as Los Ántrax, was being held.
Unofficial information states that Eliseo Imperial’s death was due to natural causes. The death was confirmed by Grupo H-100, who sent their condolences to the Imperial family through an obituary.
“Fear music and Grupo H-100 regret the passing of Mr. Eliseo Imperial López. We extend our sincere condolences and a big hug to all his family, friends and close ones. Our sincere prayers for his eternal rest,” reads an Instagram story by Jasiel Felix, lead singer of the corrido group.
Grupo H-100 is originally from Culiacán and in its musical repertoire has a corrido dedicated to Ismael Zambada Imperial, alias El Mayito Gordo, the other son of Zambada García who is imprisoned in the United States where he faces charges of conspiracy and illegal introduction of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines in a California court.
“I am not rich, gentlemen, nor have I sought fame, because I am only the son of Mr. Mayo Zambada. And because of El Mayito Gordo, all the people call me. I’ve never been one for trouble, but if there’s trouble I don’t get out of it because all my affairs have always been handled by me and also with my cousin Eliseo, nicknamed Cheyo,” reads part of the song’s lyrics.
According to media reports, Ismael Zambada Garcia’s nephew was allegedly very close to his cousin Mayito Gordo. They even point out that when Ismael Zambada Imperial was arrested in November 2014, the current leader of Los Ántrax was with him, but managed to escape.
El Cheyo Anthrax, who operates only for El Mayo Zambada, remained as the leader of the armed wing after the arrest and subsequent execution of Rodrigo Arechiga Gamboa, alias El Chino Anthrax.
El Cheyo Anthrax is known to have a feud with Los Chapitos, sons of Joaquin Guzman Loera, while US authorities implicate him in drug trafficking and money laundering operations.
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified him as a senior member of Los Ántrax in 2016. In addition to providing “support to or on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel and/or its high-ranking members.”
“The drug trafficking and money laundering activities of Eliseo Imperial Castro and Alfonso Lira Sotelo serve to expand the Sinaloa Cartel’s influence in California,” said OFAC Acting Director John E. Smith in a statement.
OFAC charged Eliseo Imperial Castro with “materially assisting, supporting, providing services to, and/or acting on behalf of his uncle, Ismael Zambada Garcia, and the Sinaloa Cartel.”
* Lobo Guardián (El Cheyo) by Los Alegres del Barranco is the name of the song that plays throughout the video.